6.2: Reading Skills- Making Connections

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What Kinds of Connections Can You Make?

As you saw in Unit 1, you are a key part of the reading process. You need to do more than just absorb what you are reading. As you read, you should try to make connections between what you are reading and what you know from your own experiences, from other things you have read, or from the world around you.

Think about what connections you made as you read Reading 1: He Didn’t Want a Dog.

Connections to yourself

Did you notice any similarities between the dog owner’s experiences and your own?
Did you share his beliefs about dogs in small apartments?
Did you picture yourself picking up poop after your own dog?
Did you know exactly how he felt when he said, “I love you, you silly Schnoodle”?

If you did, you are making a connection between the text and your own feelings and experiences. You don’t need to have a dog yourself to make a connection; you could share the ideas of the owner, or you could have experienced similar feelings with a cat, rabbit, or other animal.

Connections to other things you have read

Did the article remind you of anything else you have read, either in print or online?
Did it make you think of any other story you have enjoyed, perhaps as a child, about the love between a human and an animal?
Did it remind you of a news story you have read about a remarkable animal?
Have you seen a social media post about someone’s love for their pet?

If it did, you are making a connection between the text and other texts.

Connections to the world

Did the article remind you of anything else you have heard about or seen in the world around you?
Did you think about trends in society, for example, the trend towards having smaller pets?
Did the section about merchandise for dogs remind you of items you have seen for sale in your local mall?
Do you know people who treat their pets as family members, and who spend a lot of time and money on them?

If it did, you are making a connection between the text and the world around you.

What Is the Value of Making Connections?

There are several reasons why it is helpful to make connections between the reading and other experiences you may have. Some are as follows:

It helps you to understand the text. If you are not making connections, you become a very passive reader. You are not actively engaged in the reading.
It helps you to understand the feelings of the writer. If you can relate the writer’s experiences to your own, you develop a sense of shared understanding with the writer.
It helps you to think more broadly about what you are reading. If you can make connections to other texts or experiences, you are well on your way to becoming a critical reader.
It makes the reading process much more fun. You see the value of reading, and you are more likely to read more, either for pleasure or to find information

How Do I Make Connections?

Always read actively. As you read, pause to think about how each point the writer makes is relevant to your own life, or to what you know from your previous experiences.

You Try It!

The next reading, The Health Benefits of Pets, will give you practice in making these connections.